The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards 2025 and Wetland Cities Recognition Ceremony were held on September 9, 2025, celebrating India’s most innovative and environmentally proactive urban centers. Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav felicitated top-performing cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and acknowledged Indore and Udaipur for receiving Wetland City Accreditation under the Ramsar Convention.
Clean Air Champions: Top Cities Under NCAP
The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2025 recognized 11 top-performing cities from among 130 NCAP cities, based on air quality metrics and sustainable practices. These cities demonstrated excellence in pollution control, greening, transport innovation, and waste management.
Category 1 (Population > 10 lakh)
- 1st: Indore – Score: 200/200; ₹1.5 crore award
- Achievements: 16 lakh trees planted, 120 electric & 150 CNG buses
- 2nd: Jabalpur – Score: 199/200; ₹1 crore award
- Achievements: 11 MW waste-to-energy plant
- 3rd: Agra & Surat – Score: 196/200; ₹25 lakh each
- Agra: Legacy waste remediation, Miyawaki forests
- Surat: EV incentives, 38% green cover
Category 2 (Population 3–10 lakh)
- 1st: Amravati – Score: 200/200; ₹75 lakh award
- 2nd: Jhansi & Moradabad – Score: 198.5/200; ₹25 lakh each
- 3rd: Alwar – Score: 197.6/200; ₹25 lakh award
Category 3 (Population < 3 lakh)
- 1st: Dewas – Score: 193/200; ₹37.5 lakh
- 2nd: Parwanoo – Score: 191.5/200; ₹25 lakh
- 3rd: Angul – Score: 191/200; ₹12.5 lakh
Several cities like Indore, Jabalpur, Agra, Surat, Jhansi, Dewas, Moradabad, and Parwanoo were repeat winners, reflecting sustained commitment to cleaner air.
Financial Mobilization for Clean Air
- ₹20,130 crore allocated under NCAP
- ₹13,237 crore linked to air quality performance
- ₹73,350 crore through Central Government schemes (SBM-U, AMRUT, FAME-II)
- ₹82,000 crore from State Governments and ULBs
- Total Mobilized: ₹1.55 lakh crore across 130 cities
Wetland Cities Recognition: Ramsar Accreditation
Two Indian cities received global honours under the Wetland City Accreditation Scheme of the Ramsar Convention,
- Indore – For exceptional urban wetland management
- Udaipur – For protecting lakes and promoting eco-tourism
- India now has 91 Ramsar sites, up from 25 in 2014, the highest in Asia and third-highest globally, covering 1.36 million hectares.
Circular Economy and Environmental Initiatives
- Emphasis on reuse-recycle over linear waste disposal
- Cities encouraged to follow Circular Economy frameworks
- Target to plant 75 crore saplings during Seva Parv (Sep 17 – Oct 2) under Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam
- 75 Nagar Vans to be developed under Nagar Van Yojana
Key Takeaways for Exam
- Event: Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan & Wetland City Awards 2025
- Organizer: Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change
- Top NCAP City: Indore (Score: 200/200)
- Wetland City Honourees: Indore and Udaipur
- NCAP Coverage: 130 cities
- PM10 Improvements: 103 cities showed progress; 25 reduced PM10 by 40%
- Ramsar Sites in India: 91 (3rd globally)
- Total Funds Mobilized: ₹1.55 lakh crore
- Major Campaigns: Mission Amrit Sarovar, Mission LiFE, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam
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